Hepatoprotective Pharmacological Examination of Plant Albizia lebbeck Linn on Thioacetamide Provoked Hepatotoxicity in Rodents

Introduction: Liver diseases such as jaundice, cirrhosis and fatty liver are very common worldwide. There are many factors for the development of these diseases, one of the important factors being the use of drugs. Drug induced liver injury is a major health problem that challenges not only health care professionals but also the pharmaceutical industry and drug regulatory agencies. Hence the present study was designed to evaluate the hepato-protective activity of Albizia lebbeck leaf extracts in rats.

Objective of study: Collection and authentication of Albizia lebbeck Linn. (Mimosaceae) plant leaves. Extraction of plant material using various solvents of increasing order of polarity ether, alcohol and water. Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of Albizia lebbeck extracts. To investigate extracts for their antioxidant property.

Methodology: Thioacetamide induced liver damage in rats model was used to evaluate hepato-protective activity of Albizia lebbeck Linn and following parameters were considered.

Parameters: Liver weight, Aspartate Amino Transferase (AST), Alanine Amino Transferase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, direct bilurubin, total protein, serum albumin, serum sodium, serum potassium and clotting time.

Oxygen Reactive Absorbing Concentration (ORAC), 1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picryl Hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-Azinobis-3-ethyl- Benzothiozoline-6-Sulphonic acid (ABTS) methods used for determination of antioxidant activity for the extracts which have shown significant hepatoprotective activity.

Results: In control animals, thioacetamide induces liver damage and hence caused elevation of serum concentration of AST, ALT, ALP, total bilurubin, direct bilurubin and increase in liver weight. Thioacetamide treatment reduced serum concentration of total protein, serum albumin, sodium, potassium and also prolonged clotting time in control animals. Administration of standard drug silymarin, ethanolic extract and aqueous extract significantly reduced serum concentration of AST, ALT, ALP, total bilurubin, direct bilurubin, and liver weight and also significantly reduced clotting time in their respective groups as compared to control animals.

Conclusion: The results of above study suggested that ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Albizia lebbeck possess significant hepatoprotective activity in thioacetamide induced liver damage in rats whereas pet ether extract of Albizia lebbeck doesn’t possess hepato protective activity in the above mentioned model.

The results obtained in determination of antioxidant activity suggesting one of the possible mechanism i.e. free radical scavenging mechanism which is required for above therapeutic activity.